Interchangeable-unit store furniture



A. GACH AND G WILCOX. INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT STORE FURNITURE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4. 1920.

Patent/ad Aug. 9,, mm

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George Wflcux.

alien law A. GACH AND G. WILCOX.

INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT STORE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1920- 1 ,386, 6 1 5. Patented Au i. 9, 1921.

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Eeuwpe Wilcox.

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ALFRED GAGE AND GEORGE WILCOX, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSI GN'OR TO THE INTERCEANGEABLE WALL CASE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COR- rona'rron or rarcnrenn.

INTERGHANGEABEE-UNIT STORE FURNITURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED GAOH and Gnomes WILcox, citizens of the United States, residin at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and tate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable-UnitStore Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to store furniture and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved store cabinet or shelvin embodying a plurality of interchange- .ab e units, the units being supported in such a manner that the same can be interchanged without disturbing other units, or the contents thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for locking the units or sections in position against accidental displacement, said means also constituting locking, devices for uniting the side walls or supportin bars of the sections of the cabinet or shelvmg together.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved interchangeable unit store furniture in which the parts thereof can be readily assembled or disassembled, the locking means employed being freely removable and of such character that the employment of bolts, glue, screws and like fastening means is eliminated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved store, cabinet or shelving embodying-a plurality of interchangeable units, the units being associated with the cabinet in such a manner that the same can be arranged at any desired place in the cabinet and at any desired height above the base thereof, the cabinet being also arranged so as to permit units of different heights to be used. a

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel construction,

' arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved store cabinet or shelving.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section through the same.

Specification of Letters l'atent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed June 14, 1920. Serial No. 388,872.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the improved store cabinet or shelving, the locking pilasters being-shown removed, so as to facihtate the understanding of the means for connecting the units wlth the side supports or walls.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail horrzontal section through the cabinet illustrating the means for detachably connectin the p1lasters thereto said means also constltutmg locking devices for holding the slde supports or walls of the sections of the cabinet together.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one of the units, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing a pair of the cross braces of the unit with the means employed for. locking the same together against accidental displacement.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein slmilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved store cabinet or shelving, which includes a plurality of sections 10.

Each of the sections 10 includes corner posts or standards 11 which are connected together by means of transverse cross braces 12 and longitudinally extending braces 13. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the braces 12 are arranged intermediate the corner posts 11 throughout their entire height, while the longitudinally extending braces 13 are positioned merely at the top and bottom thereof. The structure is further braced by transversely extending strips 14 which are arranged at the lower ends of the corner posts 11 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Diagonal braces 15 also connect the transverse strips 14 and the longitudinally extending bars 13.

To give a finished appearance to each of the cabinet sections 10, the base pieces 16 and cornice pieces 17 areprovided and these pieces terminate short of the side facesof the corner posts 11, for a purpose WhlOh will hereinafter more fully appear. Thus it can be seen that when two units are placed together the corner posts 11 will be arranged in abutting relation and as these cornices and bases 17 and 16 are spaced the posts will be exposed throughout their entire length. These posts are adapted to be covered by removable pilasters 18 which may be of suitable ornamental design, and these pilasters are of suflicient width to extend beyond the posts 11 so as to hide the connection of the unit 19, which will be hereinafter more fully described, with the sections 10.

The sections 10 are connected together by clips 20 which serve to prevent accidental displacement of the sections when two or more sections are used together. These clips are connected to the upper and lower transverse brace bars 12 and the opposite faces of these bars are provided with inclined ways or grooves 21, which terminate in substantially horizontal disposed portions 22. Each of the clips 20 is of substantially U-shaped configuration in cross section and the legs thereof are provided with inwardly extending lugs which are adapted to fit in the grooves 21. It can be seen that when the side braces 12 are arranged in abutting relation and the clips are slid in position, accidental displacement of the sections is prevented.

The units 19 can be made of any desired height and are freely interchangeable and are so arranged that the same do not rest one upon another which permits the removal of the units, without interfering with other units. Each of the units is of sub stantially rectangular shape and each includes the top Wall 24, the bottom wall 25 and the connectin end or side walls 26. The side or end wal s 26 have the outer faces thereof provided with horizontally disposed grooves 27, any one of which is adapted to receive tracks 28, which are adapted to engage guides 29 carried by the side or corner posts 11. The guides 28 may be formed of metal if so desired and include the vertical walls 30 and the downwardly and outwardly inclined walls 31 which are adapted to rest upon the upwardly inclined ,wall 32 forming a portion of the guide 29. The guide 29 includes the inclined wall 32, the vertically disposed wall 33 and the downwardly extending foot 34 which is adapted to be positioned in an one of a plurality of slots 35 formed in tiie outer faces of the corner post 11. It can be seen that the guides and tracks 28 and 29 are freely removable and can be placed at any point in relation to the corner post 11 and the units 19 .so that the units can be positioned at any desired height in relationto the corner posts 11. To prevent the accidental displacement of the guides, removable fastening elements 36 are provided. When the units are in position and the pilasters 18 are placed over .the posts 11 the guides and tracks are effectively hid from view, so that the cabinet or shelving will present a neat appearance to the eye. The pilasters 18 are detachably held in position by means of U-shaped clips 37 which are shaped similar to the clips 20 detachably associated with the transverse braces 12. The clips37 are carried by the inner faces of the pilasters 18, and the' terminals of the legs of these clips have inwardly extending lugs 38 which are adapted to slide in grooves 39 formed in the inner faces of the post 11. These grooves 39 terminate in vertically disposed portions 40 in which the lugs 38 are adapted to rest when the pilasters are in their correct operative position. In placing the pilasters 1n position, the lugs 38 are placed in the grooves 39 and the pilaster is SllCl rearwardly and downwardl which will position the lugs in horizontal y disposed portions 40 of the slots. This will effectively hold the pilasters against accidental displacement and hold the units 19 in position.

When it is desired to interchange any one of the units, it is merely necessary to lift up on the pilasters 18 and remove the same and slide the units 19 out of the sections 10.

It is to be understood that the units 19 can be used simply as a shelving as indicated by the numeral 41 in Fig. 1 of the drawings or the same may be provided with hinged doors 42 or provided with guides for drawers 43.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved system of store furniture has been provided, which consists of a plurality of units which can be readily interchanged without disturbing other units.

Changes in details may be made without departing fromthe spirit or scope of this invention; but,

We claim:

1. In a store furniture construction, the combination of a casing, a plurality of guides carried by the caslng, a plurality of interchangeable units slidably carried by the guides, and means for detachably engaging said units to hold the same in position against accidental displacement.

2. In a store furniture construction, the combination with a casing, of a plurality of guides carried by the casing, a plurality of detachable and interchangeable units slidably carried by the guides, and detachable pilasters carried by the casing and arranged to overlie the side edges of the units, whereby displacement of the units is prevented.

3. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of sections, each section including corner posts, transverse and longitudinal braces, means for detachably connecting the transverse braces of the sections together,,a' plurality of superposed guides carried by the corner posts of each section, a plurality of interchangeable units slidably carried by the guides, and pilasters associated with the units and arranged to overlie the corner posts and the side edges of the units whereby the units are held against accidental displacement.

4. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of detachable units, each unit consisting of corner posts, transverse connect ing braces and longitudinally extending upper and lower braces, the opposite side faces justably carried by the end walls of the units arranged to slidably engage said guides, detachable ilasters carried by the units and arrange to overlie the corner posts and the side edges of the units, and clips carried by the inner faces of said pilaster arranged to engage the opposite faces of said corner posts.

5. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of sections, each of said sectionsi'neluding corner posts and transverse and longitudinally extending'braces, the inner faces of said corner posts havin slots formed therein, transversely extending guides arranged to fit in any one of said slots, detachable fastening clips arran ed to engage the transverse braces to hold he sections in abutting relation, a lurality of rectangular shaped interchangea le units, tracks adjustably carried by the sides of said units and arranged to engage the said. guides, pilasters arranged to engage the outer faces of the corner posts and to overlie the inner edges of the units, the opposite faces of said corner posts being provided with downwardly and inwardly inclined slots, and substantially U-shaped clips carried by the inner faces of said pilasters and arranged to engage in said slots.

6. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of sections, means for detachably connecting the sections together, a plurality of superposed adjustable guides carried by each section, a plurality of rectangularly shaped units, guide tracks adjustably carried by the end walls of the units arranged to slidably engage said guides, and detachable pilasters carried by the meeting faces of the sections and arranged to overlie the side edges of said sections.

7. In a store furniture construction, a. plurality of detachable sections, each section including corner posts, transverse connecting braces and longitudinally extending upper and lower braces, means connecting the transverse braces together, a plurality of guides carried by the corner posts, and a plurality of superposed removable units, and guide tracks adj ustably carried by the sides of the units arranged to detachably and slidably engage said guides.

8. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of sections, means for detachably connecting the sections together, a plurality of superposed units arranged in the sections, each of the units including upper and lower walls, and side walls, a plurality of transversely extending grooves formed in the side walls of the units, guides carried by the sections, and tracks arranged to fit in any one of the grooves of the side walls of the units for resting upon said guides.

9. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of detachable sections arranged to be placed in horizontal alinement, a plurality of superposed diagonally extending guide tracks carried by each one of the sections, a plurality of independent superposed units arranged in each one of the sections, each of the units including upper and lower and side walls, means carried by the side walls for slidably and detachably engaging the guide tracks carried by the sections, whereby any one of the units may be moved from the sections independently of the other units, and removable pilasters slidably associated with the sections for connecting the same together arranged to overlie the meeting edges thereof and the side edges of the units, whereby accidental sliding movement of the units is prevented.

10. In a store furniture construction, a plurality of sections arranged in horizontal alinement, a plurality of superposed units arranged in each one of the sections and including upper and lower and side walls, transversely extending guide tracks carried by each of the sections, means carried by the side walls of the units for engagingsaid guide tracks whereby the units will be supported independently of each other, and locking pilasters carried by the sections arranged to overlie the meeting edges thereof and the side edges of the units, whereby accidental displacement of the units is prevented, certain of said units being'adapted to receive hinged doors, andothers slidable drawers.

ALFRED GACH. GEORGE WILCOX. 

